You mention transmission growling and 'stiff' steering, they could be one and the same problem due to bevel gear shaft bearing wear, providing you can steer evenly both ways, leave well enough alone. Someone has changed that outer taper bearing cup before, you can see the hot spanner marks in the paint, totally unnecessary, remove those bearings with a run of weld around them and hook them out with a heel bar.

"catsilver" wrote:

You mention transmission growling and 'stiff' steering, they could be one and the same problem due to bevel gear shaft bearing wear, providing you can steer evenly both ways, leave well enough alone. Someone has changed that outer taper bearing cup before, you can see the hot spanner marks in the paint, totally unnecessary, remove those bearings with a run of weld around them and hook them out with a heel bar.

Thanks Catsilver, It does steer well and evenly, in particular when warmed up. Its "stiff" and takes harder brake pressure when cold, but gets much better after running around a bit. I will leave it alone. It all works ok so far. Amazing what I worry about on these things, but in reality, I only have them for enjoyment and don't want to spend more than basic maintenance "fluid changes" filters and small odds and ends.
I have learned that these bigger older Cats are very forgiving and have long lives with just basic care. In all the years I have been around the train wreck outfits 583's and old 9's and 8's they very seldom have ever had the finals out or major engine issues... I think the only one I recall as changing a head gasket on one of the 583's. We did break a drive shaft on a Hyster D89C winch a couple times over the years, but that'
s about it.Those machines have been around since at least the mid 60's to early 70's... The first D9 was a D purchased in 1956, Then a cable blade E came.. then on to the G maybe 1970 or so.

Tim check the steering lever control linkage lengths, should give the dimensions and the adjustment procedure in the service manual, if they are not correct it will not actuate the steering boosters correctly to release the clutches.